Earl Monroe Smith

Memorial services for Earl Monroe Smith, 90, of Tyler, formerly of Bullard, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013, at Grace Chapel Assembly of God Church, 17269 U.S. Highway 69 South, Tyler, with the Rev. Mike Davis officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be in Bascom Cemetery.

E.M. passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the presence of his children and other family members. He was born in Tyler on June 2, 1922, to Charles E. and Lilly Smith, the third of 15 children born to them.

He married Margaret Elizabeth McCaslin on Sept. 2, 1941, and remained married to her for 70 years until her passing on Jan. 22, 2012. They lived and raised their family just south of Tyler until 1971, when they moved to their farm southeast of Bullard, and lived there until moving back to Tyler in 2009. They were members of Grace Chapel Assembly of God Church.

He was a plumber, a pipe fitter and a peach farmer. He and Margaret were always supportive of their children, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and encouraged them to love their Lord and Savior, their family, their country and their fellow man and to always work hard and do their very best, not only through their words but also by their loving and caring actions.

E.M. was a veteran of World War II. He served in the Army in the Pacific on Luzon and the Philippines and was among the first of the soldiers to land on mainland Japan. He received two Bronze Stars and other commendations.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Gloria Jean Smith in 1954; his wife, Margaret in 2012; his parents; five sisters, Eula Patton, Helen Strickland, Nancy Barron, Millie Hubbard and a sister who died as an infant; and two brothers, Lester Smith and Billy Smith.

He is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Powell and her husband Kenneth, of White Oak, Linda Kirkpatrick and her husband Howard, of Tyler; three sons, Charles E. "Buddy" Smith and his wife Cindy, of Whitehouse, Johnny G. Smith and his wife Brenda, of Tyler, and Douglas W. Smith and his wife Diane, of Bullard; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; four sisters, Wanda Holland, Nora Hubbard, Neta Smith and Gay Smith; three brothers, Paul Smith, Rufus Smith and Joe Bert Smith; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews, other family members; and a host of brothers and sisters in Christ.

His family expresses deep-hearted appreciation and thanks to the staff and management of Garden Estates of Tyler, Heart to Heart Hospice, Atria Willow Park of Tyler, Paradigm Homecare, At Home Healthcare and Boren-Conner Funeral Home for the loving care and attention they all expressed and provided to E.M. and Margaret and to all of their family.